Durand Bernarr is a star — not because of his NPR: Tiny Desk concert that amassed over 900,000 views and had his band clad in Proud Family costumes, nor because of his ability to hold his own while on stage with legends. It’s because he’s discovered that the best strategy as an entertainer is to stay true to himself.
Following the release of his highly anticipated album Wanderlust and his sold-out 17-city tour, the Wanderlust Tour, Bernarr recently announced his 15-city follow-up tour: My Bad For Taking So Long…The Wanderlust Tour Continues.
The shows kick off on Sept. 6 at The Abbey in Orlando, Florida. The tour will stop across the U.S. in Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina and more before concluding in Berlin on Nov. 20.
Blavity spoke with Bernarr about his journey to Wanderlust and everything he’s learned along the way.
Many were first introduced to Bernarr through a viral clip of him singing a sultry rendition of Beyonce’s “Sorry.” Leading up to that moment, the artist said he had been using social media as his personal marketing company and saw the importance of content early.
Being part of the “press play and record” generation helped Bernarr realize you must have more than a catchy song to keep people around. The “Stuck” singer said that letting people know his true personality was part of his artistic development.
“I was just doing it because it was fun,” he told Blavity. “And because of that, it got me the traction. It’s consistency. In my case, I wasn’t always doing covers, but I was doing reviews and blogs. I was sharing my feelings and my thoughts on certain things. Allowing people into the space.”
The different types of content allowed Bernarr to increase his fan base and eventually convert them into a loyal tribe.
“I implement my sense of humor and just talk about things that aren’t the normal conversation or topic,” he said. “I like to discuss stuff I still need to tackle and touch on. I’m showing some growth and getting folks hip to some things I’ve opened myself to.”
The Cleveland native never boxed himself into being only a singer. His comfort in exploring and documenting his range of interests is a testament to his upbringing.
Bernarr grew up in a household where creativity was a part of his everyday life. His mother would implement music or any form of expression into his homeschool plans, and his father was the sound director for their church.
Following in the footsteps of his dad, the singer’s first gig in music was at the age of 16 as a production assistant during an Earth, Wind & Fire show.
“My dad pulled me on with that,” Bernarr said. “And that’s when I was able to be in that environment, work behind the scenes, and be a part of what I call ‘the hive’ — the production of all of the things that go on behind the scenes to make sure that the show runs very smoothly. And so I have a different appreciation for just the road as a whole.”
Bernarr’s understanding of supportive roles “being the first ones in and the last ones out” influenced the foundation of his artistry and his understanding that it was a business.
He learned how to “take care of those that take care of him” and create a village he can lean on for creative support. His genuine admiration for his village was apparent when he expressed how elated he was when people complimented his background singers for his 2023 NPR: Tiny Desk Concert appearance.
“We kept hearing these are the best background singers ever,” he said. “That makes me so proud to hear people talk about how locked in the band was. I mean, yeah, I’m great, but the people I have around me are also a reflection of that, so for them to be acknowledged within that is … ah! I just love it!”
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In 2009, the singer-songwriter released his first mixtape, Alcoholharmony: The MixT@pe.
The next year, he followed up with 8ight: The Stepson of Erykah Badu, a creative love letter to the musical icon. The homage was well received, as Badu slid into Bernarr’s Twitter messages and hired him as a background vocalist in 2011.
His first studio album, #Blameitonthemango, was released in 2014.
While racking up a résumé as a supporting voice for Badu and other R&B greats and becoming the internet’s best-kept secret, Bernarr returned to the studio with some new inspiration.
His second full-length studio album, DUR&, released in 2020, catapulted the singer onto another level. The album showcased features from mainstream acts including Ari Lennox, KAYTRANADA and Anna Wise.
Throughout the pandemic, his social media followers were privy to Bernarr’s multiple roller-skating adventures, random public service announcements, and talks about therapy and self-reflection.
His personal growth and realizations became the outline for this latest album, Wanderlust.
“DUR& was before therapy. Wanderlust is during. Like, we are in it!” he said.
He emphasized everything his sessions have been uncovering.
“I’m learning shit and having these moments of catharsis like, ‘Yo, y’all, I’m tapping into my inner child. My inner teenager.’ I’m learning some things, like unpacking. I’m feeling lighter, my feet, I’m grounded all at the same time, just a lot.”
Bernarr said his goal for this album was to figure out ways to “encourage people to reset boundaries.”
“That really sets the tone,” he said. “The way we treat ourselves is a reflection of how other people are going to treat us. Because they’re looking, they’re looking to see how we treat ourselves.”
One of the album’s leading singles, “Mango Butter,” became the ultimate soundtrack for people expressing their duality.
“I’m a bad b***h and I’m that n***a,” had millions of TikToks and reels with fans showcasing how they proudly embrace their masculine and feminine.
For Bernarr, people using his music to display comfort in their duality means more to him than they know.
“It makes the things that I’ve gone through — the punches to my chest, the ridicule, the harassment, all that shit — really kind of worth it. Because now I know that that had nothing to do with me. It had nothing to do with me.”
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The artist noted his confidence, which has allowed him to focus on healing instead of pain. The singer said he viewed his Wanderlust Tour shows as mass therapy sessions.
“I’m taking things I’ve accumulated over my time in therapy and putting it into the music. I’m bringing it to the live shows. So folks think they’re only coming to hear me sing some songs, and we’d all laugh, but it becomes a group therapy session. Yeah, so what you usually would have had to pay a nice grip for, you only pay $25.”
Laughing at the “no insurance required” sessions, he said he did request one thing from his fans: “The only thing I ask is that she goes spread that word. Pay it forward. Go spread that light. Go spread that kindness. Go spread that grace.”
Bernarr will surely continue to spread his light on his reconvened tour, and he plans to hit 15 new cities. The “My Bad for Taking So Long…” shows will see a return of the roller skates and flamboyant fashions that are signature components of his onstage artistry.
Attendees may even get a surprise performance from DJ TBD aka Bra Coley, Bernarr’s alias for his role as the ultimate experience curator.
“I want to see wigs slide off,” he said.
Above all, Bernarr loves to entertain. His love of the spotlight is rooted in the gratifying feeling of exposing people to something new.
Tickets for My Bad for Taking So Long…The Wanderlust Tour Continues are on sale now. You can view the dates and purchase tickets at here.
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